06/17/08

School lunch price increase in the offing for fall

Beginning in the fall, student price for a hot lunch at school will be $2.85, and adults will pay $4.

The School Board approved the increase, subject to state approval, at their meeting June 10.

"We are in the red on the hot lunch," said board member Rebecca Millett, chairman of the board's finance committee.

Food Services director Sue King did an analysis of how much lunches are costing the School Department, Millett said. "We were made quickly aware of the fact that we are not charging enough to cover our costs, even with federal reimbursements," Millett said.

Last year, the School Board requested and received approval to increase the hot lunch price to $2.25, which was the rate for the 2007-08 school year. Adult lunches cost $3 this year.

Millett said her committee had considered upping the student price to $3, but believed that that much of a hike might effect the number of lunches sold.

"We're kind of taking a middle step, with the understanding that we may have to raise (the price) again a substantial amount next year," she said.

At the same time, officials are looking at ways to increase the number of school lunches sold. At the Pond Cove and Middle School, donated salad bars have recently added to the menu choices. Millett said the salads have been popular, but the related increase in sales has not overcome the deficit.

Finance Committee minutes from the May meeting showed a food services deficit of $39,918.

Millett attributed the loss to a decrease in lunch sales, as well as increased costs for food and labor. "It's a combination of things," she said.

"I'm hoping that with the changes Sue (King) is making with the Wellness Committee, along with our increase in pricing, that we can hopefully find an equilibrium to address some of these issues," Millett said.

The High School cafeteria is slated for a revamping thanks to grants from the "Let's Go" program and the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation, and the schools are working closely with the Cape Elizabeth Farm Alliance to make fresh, locally grown foods available at school in season.

Food Services is also looking into making online credit-card payment available for school lunch.